Neapolitan Potato Gateau with ham and mozzarella

A wonderful comfort dish for a cold winter day is the classic Neapolitan Gateau so popular in area around Naples.

It is a French dish re-adapted to the Italian cuisine, in Italian it is known as "gattò; Made of mashed potatoes, eggs and cheese and with a filling of mozzarella, ham, and fresh basil leaves this is savoury cake you can never have enough of!

Instructions

Put the unpeeled potatoes in a sauce pan, cover them with cold water and bring to the boil. Cook for 30 minutes then drain.
Peel them whilst they are still warm and mash them in a bowl. Add the melted butter, eggs, salt and pepper, chopped ham and finely chopped parsley, grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese and mix well. Add some milk to help making a soft consistency.

Cut the mozzarella into cubes. Grease your baking tray with butter and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

Put half of the mashed potato mixture on the baking tray, level it well and put the mozzarella and chopped basil leaves on top

Cover with the remaining potato mixture and make a pattern with the back of a fork.

Scatter the top with breadcrumbs and flakes of butter ( I have used olive oil instead). Cook at 190C for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

You can decorate your gateau by cutting out some ham slices with a pastry cutter and make any shapes you like!

13 Responses to Neapolitan Potato Gateau with ham and mozzarella

Dear Alida,
The Potato Gatto is a favorite of my family. My aunt Jenny used to make it and we all loved her potato pie so much. Maybe it was because she made it and she was a special aunt. Your recipe looks delicious, I love the way you put the round rings on the pie with the fork and decorated it with the “ham” butterflies. Just a great idea and a beautiful pie! A total meal all in one dish, love it and so does the dishwasher (me). Your version is great and would love to try this recipe too! Thanks for sharing….have a wonderful and fun weekend.
Dottie 🙂 x

Hi Alida!
Oh my goodness gracious! This pie is a long lost favorite of mine. When we were kids my mother, whose family came from Naples and my father, whose family came from Sicley would argue over who made the “real” potato pie. My Father’s version was made with sliced potatoes and my Mother’s mashed potatoes. I LOVED either and both versions, lol…Thank you so much for sharing your masterpiece, Alida…It looks gorgeous!!!

Wow! This is fantastic! I have never heard of potatoes being boiled in their skins and then being peeled. Is this to prevent them getting too moist or to keep the flavour in? I will definitely be eating this one…… Love it!

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